Rare variant associations with plasma protein levels in the UK Biobank

Integrating human genomics and proteomics can help elucidate disease mechanisms, identify clinical biomarkers and discover drug targets1-4. Because previous proteogenomic studies have focused on common variation via genome-wide association studies, the contribution of rare variants to the plasma proteome remains largely unknown. Here we identify associations between rare protein-coding variants and 2,923 plasma protein abundances measured in 49,736 UK Biobank individuals. Our variant-level exome-wide association study identified 5,433 rare genotype-protein associations, of which 81% were undetected in a previous genome-wide association study of the same cohort5. We then looked at aggregate signals using gene-level collapsing analysis, which revealed 1,962 gene-protein associations. Of the 691 gene-level signals from protein-truncating variants, 99.4% were associated with decreased protein levels. STAB1 and STAB2, encoding scavenger receptors involved in plasma protein clearance, emerged as pleiotropic loci, with 77 and 41 protein associations, respectively. We demonstrate the utility of our publicly accessible resource through several applications. These include detailing an allelic series in NLRC4, identifying potential biomarkers for a fatty liver disease-associated variant in HSD17B13 and bolstering phenome-wide association studies by integrating protein quantitative trait loci with protein-truncating variants in collapsing analyses. Finally, we uncover distinct proteomic consequences of clonal haematopoiesis (CH), including an association between TET2-CH and increased FLT3 levels. Our results highlight a considerable role for rare variation in plasma protein abundance and the value of proteogenomics in therapeutic discovery.

Multiomics links global surfactant dysregulation with airflow obstruction and emphysema in COPD

Rationale

Pulmonary surfactant is vital for lung homeostasis as it reduces surface tension to prevent alveolar collapse and provides essential immune-regulatory and anti-pathogenic functions. Previous studies demonstrated dysregulation of some individual surfactant components in COPD.

Objectives

We investigated relationships between COPD disease measures and dysregulation of surfactant components to gain new insights about potential disease mechanisms.

Methods

Bronchoalveolar lavage proteome and lipidome were characterised in ex-smoking mild/moderate COPD subjects (n=26) and healthy ex-smoking (n=20) and never-smoking (n=16) controls using mass spectrometry. Serum surfactant protein analysis was performed.

Results

Total phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and surfactant protein (SP)-B, SP-A and SP-D concentrations were lower, COPDversuscontrols, log2 fold change (log2FC)=−2.0, −2.2, −1.5, −0.5, −0.7, −0.5 (adj. p-value<0.02), respectively, and correlated with lung function. Total phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and SP-A, SP-B, SP-D, NAPSA and CD44 inversely correlated with CT small airways disease measures (E/I MLD), r=−0.56, r=−0.58, r=−0.45, r=−0.36, r=−0.44, r=−0.37, r=−0.40, r=−0.39 (adj. p-value<0.05). Total phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and SP-A, SP-B, SP-D and NAPSA inversely correlated with emphysema (%LAA): r=−0.55, r=−0.61, r=−0.48, r=−0.51, r=−0.41, r=−0.31, r=−0.34, respectively (adj. p-value<0.05). Neutrophil elastase, known to degrade SP-A and SP-D, was elevated, COPDversuscontrols, log2FC of 0.40 (adj. p-value=0.0390) and inversely correlated with SP-A and SP-D. Serum SP-D was increased in COPDversusHV-ES, and predicted COPD status, AUC=0.85.

Conclusions

Using a multiomics approach we, for the first time, demonstrate global surfactant dysregulation in COPD which was associated with emphysema giving new insights about potential mechanisms underlying the cause or consequence of disease.

Structural basis for DNA damage-induced phosphoregulation of MDM2 RING domain

Phosphorylation of MDM2 by ATM upon DNA damage is an important mechanism for deregulating MDM2, thereby leading to p53 activation. ATM phosphorylates multiple residues near the RING domain of MDM2, but the underlying molecular basis for deregulation remains elusive. Here we show that Ser429 phosphorylation selectively enhances the ubiquitin ligase activity of MDM2 homodimer but not MDM2-MDMX heterodimer. A crystal structure of phospho-Ser429 (pS429)-MDM2 bound to E2-ubiquitin reveals a unique 310-helical feature present in MDM2 homodimer that allows pS429 to stabilize the closed E2-ubiquitin conformation and thereby enhancing ubiquitin transfer. In cells Ser429 phosphorylation increases MDM2 autoubiquitination and degradation upon DNA damage, whereas S429A substitution protects MDM2 from auto-degradation. Our results demonstrate that Ser429 phosphorylation serves as a switch to boost the activity of MDM2 homodimer and promote its self-destruction to enable rapid p53 stabilization and resolve a long-standing controversy surrounding MDM2 auto-degradation in response to DNA damage.

Cancer biomarker discovery and translation: proteomics and beyond

INTRODUCTION

Cancer is often diagnosed at late stages when the chance of cure is relatively low and although research initiatives in oncology discover many potential cancer biomarkers, few transition to clinical applications. This review addresses the current landscape of cancer biomarker discovery and translation with a focus on proteomics and beyond. Areas covered: The review examines proteomic and genomic techniques for cancer biomarker detection and outlines advantages and challenges of integrating multiple omics approaches to achieve optimal sensitivity and address tumor heterogeneity. This discussion is based on a systematic literature review and direct participation in translational studies. Expert commentary: Identifying aggressive cancers early on requires improved sensitivity and implementation of biomarkers representative of tumor heterogeneity. During the last decade of genomic and proteomic research, significant advancements have been made in next generation sequencing and mass spectrometry techniques. This in turn has led to a dramatic increase in identification of potential genomic and proteomic cancer biomarkers. However, limited successes have been shown with translation of these discoveries into clinical practice. We believe that the integration of these omics approaches is the most promising molecular tool for comprehensive cancer evaluation, early detection and transition to Precision Medicine in oncology.

Insights into Ubiquitination from the Unique Clamp-like Binding of the RING E3 AO7 to the E2 UbcH5B

RING proteins constitute the largest class of E3 ubiquitin ligases. Unlike most RINGs, AO7 (RNF25) binds the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, UbcH5B (UBE2D2), with strikingly high affinity. We have defined, by co-crystallization, the distinctive means by which AO7 binds UbcH5B. AO7 contains a structurally unique UbcH5B binding region (U5BR) that is connected by an 11-amino acid linker to its RING domain, forming a clamp surrounding the E2. The U5BR interacts extensively with a region of UbcH5B that is distinct from both the active site and the RING-interacting region, referred to as the backside of the E2. An apparent paradox is that the high-affinity binding of the AO7 clamp to UbcH5B, which is dependent on the U5BR, decreases the rate of ubiquitination. We establish that this is a consequence of blocking the stimulatory, non-covalent, binding of ubiquitin to the backside of UbcH5B. Interestingly, when non-covalent backside ubiquitin binding cannot occur, the AO7 clamp now enhances the rate of ubiquitination. The high-affinity binding of the AO7 clamp to UbcH5B has also allowed for the co-crystallization of previously described and functionally important RING mutants at the RING-E2 interface. We show that mutations having marked effects on function only minimally affect the intermolecular interactions between the AO7 RING and UbcH5B, establishing a high degree of complexity in activation through the RING-E2 interface.

Identification of a novel Zn2+-binding domain in the autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinson-related E3 ligase parkin

Missense mutations in park2, encoding the parkin protein, account for approximately 50% of autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinson disease (ARJP) cases. Parkin belongs to the family of RBR (RING-between-RING) E3 ligases involved in the ubiquitin-mediated degradation and trafficking of proteins such as Pael-R and synphillin-1. The proposed architecture of parkin, based largely on sequence similarity studies, consists of N-terminal ubiquitin-like and C-terminal RBR domains. These domains are separated by a approximately 160-residue unique parkin sequence having no recognizable domain structure. We used limited proteolysis experiments on bacterially expressed and purified parkin to identify a new domain (RING0) within the unique parkin domain sequence. RING0 comprises two distinct, conserved cysteine-rich clusters between Cys(150)-Cys(169) and Cys(196)-His(215) consisting of CX(2)-(3)CX(11)CX(2)C and CX(4-6)CX(10-16)-CX(2)(H/C) motifs. The positions of the cysteine/histidine residues in this region bear similarity to parkin RING1 and RING2 domains, as well as other E3 ligase RING domains. However, in parkin a 26-residue linker region separates the motifs, which is not typical of other RING domain structures. Further, the RING0 domain includes all but one of the known ARJP mutation sites between the ubiquitin-like and RBR regions of parkin. Using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry analysis, we determined that the RING0, RING1, IBR, and RING2 domains each bind two Zn(2+) ions, the first observation of an E3 ligase with the ability to bind eight metal ions. Removal of the zinc from parkin causes near complete unfolding of the protein, an observation that rationalizes cysteine-based ARJP mutations found throughout parkin, including RING0 (C212Y) that form cellular inclusions and/or are defective for ubiquitination likely because of poor zinc binding and misfolding. The identification of the RING0 domain in parkin provides a new overall domain structure for the protein that will be important in assessing the roles of ARJP mutations and designing experiments aimed at understanding the disease.

Structure of the Parkin in-between-ring domain provides insights for E3-ligase dysfunction in autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease

Mutations in Parkin are one of the predominant hereditary factors found in patients suffering from autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinsonism. Parkin is a member of the E3 ubiquitin ligase family that is defined by a tripartite RING1-in-between-ring (IBR)-RING2 motif. In Parkin, the IBR domain has been shown to augment binding of the E2 proteins UbcH7 and UbcH8, and the subsequent ubiquitination of the proteins synphilin-1, Sept5, and SIM2. To facilitate our understanding of Parkin function, the solution structure of the Parkin IBR domain was solved by using NMR spectroscopy. Folding of the IBR domain (residues M327-S378) was found to be zinc dependent, and the structure reveals the domain forms a unique pair scissor-like and GAG knuckle-like zinc-binding sites, different from other zinc-binding motifs such as the RING, LIM, PHD, or B-box motifs. The N terminus of the IBR domain, residues E307-E322, is unstructured. The disease causing mutation T351P causes global unfolding, whereas the mutation R334C causes some structural rearrangement of the domain. In contrast, the protein containing the mutation G328E appears to be properly folded. The structure of the Parkin IBR domain, in combination with mutational data, allows a model to be proposed where the IBR domain facilitates a close arrangement of the adjacent RING1 and RING2 domains to facilitate protein interactions and subsequent ubiquitination.